WPL Retentions: Deepti, Lanning and Ecclestone likely to be released

With each of the five teams set to announce their retention list on Thursday, some big names - including Deepti Sharma, Meg Lanning, Sophie Ecclestone and Amelia Kerr - are unlikely to figure in it. Ahead of the upcoming Women's Premier League mega auctions, each team can have a maximum of five retentions.

These retentions can comprise of a maximum of three Indian capped players, two overseas players and two Indian uncapped players. In case a franchise wants to retain five players, one of their players must be an uncapped player as seen in the case of Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals below. For the first time in the WPL, franchises have been permitted to use the Right-to-Match card in the WPL auction.

Mumbai Indians are likely to part ways with Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar and Yastika Bhatia from their squad ahead of the Women's Premier League mega auctions. Cricbuzz understands that they are likely, instead, to put their faith in the young wicketkeeper-bat G Kamlini and all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, along with the veteran trio of Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews and Nat-Sciver Brunt.

Delhi Capitals, another star-studded team, are expected to release their captain Lanning ahead of the auctions. Under Lanning's leadership, DC reached the finals of each of the three seasons played so far. They are likely to retain the all-round duo of Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp, along with recent world cup winners Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma. Among the youngsters, Niki Prasad, who impressed in her maiden season earlier this year, is expected to be retained.

Gujarat Giants on the other hand, are unlikely to retain any Indian players. Cricbuzz understands that they might opt to keep two of their foreigners.

UP Warriorz, who have a new coach at the helm in Abhishek Nayar, are looking to start afresh - except Shweta Sehrawat, the former Under-19 World Cup winner. They are expected to let go of all their players - including Alyssa Healy, Deepti, Ecclestone and Kranti Gaud.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, champions in 2024 finished fourth last season, but with a plethora of star players - Indian and foreigners - they have had some tough decisions to make. However, they are expected to retain only four players from their roster - Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil and Richa Ghosh. Cricbuzz understands that there was a bit of deliberation around the latter, but she is expected to be in the retention list, which will be announced later on Thursday (November 6).